Magnesia Springs had rules painted on a large sign at the entrance, There at the top was, “All bathers must shower before entering pool.” I had already showered once that day, been swimming, and now had to shower again. I had never been so clean.  And then came “No Running, No diving and so on. After taking another shower, we all walked out to the pool area. Mom and Betty found a picnic table by the children’s pool where we left our towels and picnic lunch, then the big kids, me my sister and Betty and Billy’s to daughters, followed Dad and Billy out to the big pool, while my brother and little Timmy stayed at the children’s pool with Mom and Betty. The water was the same cold as Silver Glen, 72 degrees. The large pool was only about three feet deep at the shallow end so I could stand in it with my head out of the water.

After having my first swimming lesson just that morning, I practiced swimming with Dad giving me suggestions. But I couldn't take the cold for long, and after fifteen or so minutes had to get out. I saw Mom and Betty at a picnic table, so I walked over to them, wading through children’s pool as I passed it. Being shallower and in the hot sun, it was considerably warmer than the main pool. I considered joining the little kids there, but that would have been embarrassing, after all, I was six and too old for the kiddy pool.

After checking in with Mom and warming up, the other kids called me to join them for some game back in the main pool. Heading to the pool, I broke the number one rule, No Running. I didn’t get ten feet when I slipped, fell, and hit my head. I landed pretty hard, and I was a little dazed as I sat up and felt something warm running down the side of my face. I wiped it with my hand, blood, lots of blood, dripping down my face onto the sidewalk, I felt a little faint. Mom and Betty quickly come to my aid as a bunch of kids gather around. Mom asks if I’m OK, and I say, “I think so.” But clearly, I’m not with blood pooling around me. Mom examines me up close and says, “You’ll probably need stitches.” Then gives me a towel to press on the wound and sends my brother to fetch Dad who was in the big pool. Dad arrived on the scene, looks at me and says, “We better get him to the doctor.” Mom asks Betty if she can bring my brother and sister home and Betty of course says, yes. Dad picks me up, carries me to the car and we drove directly to the doctor’s office.

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